Spring Home Maintenance Tips
It’s hard to believe with the below normal temperatures and excessive snowfall we’ve experienced all winter, but spring really is just right around the corner. Now is a great time to make sure your home’s exterior withstood the harsh conditions that winter brought. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you inspect your home.
Roof. Do a visual inspection from the ground. Do you see any shingle-shift, suggesting that some fasteners may have failed and need replacing? Do you see any cracked or missing shingles? What about nail-pops?
Exterior Walls. Whether you have wood siding, stucco or brick, look for trouble spots, especially under eaves and near gutter downspouts. Water stains normally indicate that your gutters are not adequately containing roof runoff. If you have wood siding, check for openings, damaged areas or knots that have popped out.
Foundations. When inspecting the exterior of your home, be sure to examine the foundation from top to bottom for masonry cracks.
Windows. Leakage around windows will admit warm summer air and let cooled indoor air escape, so be sure to check that any caulking and weather stripping you have in place has remained intact.
Decks. Look for warped, loose or splintered boards, and remove any leaves and debris accumulated in the space between boards. Whether it’s wood, plastic or composite, a deck should be cleaned every year to extend its life. If the finish on your wood deck is faded or worn, now is the time to clean, stain, and reseal it.
Outdoor Furniture. If you stored your lawn furniture for the winter, bring it outdoors and give it a hose rinse, or wash it with a mild detergent. For metal furniture, check for signs of rust or paint erosion; a simple remedy of spray enamel will prevent further damage from sun, rain and humidity in the months ahead.